Bath Abbey is expecting over 50,000 people through their doors this December between Advent Sunday and Christmas Day, with many visiting for either festive services or the concerts on offer.
Just in terms of visitor figures, the Abbey welcomed 29,172 people last December, a 20% increase on December 2015. In addition to this, approximately a further 23,000 attended church services during this festive period.
From carol-singing to spectacular choral concerts, including the widely-popular Advent Procession, the Abbey hosts around 40 different Christmas services and three huge Christmas concerts.
During the Bath Christmas market (23rd November to 9th December), Festive Tower Tours give shoppers the opportunity to climb the 212 steps to the top of the Abbey Tower in order to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the market.
Visitors and Bath residents alike can also get into the festive spirit with Shoppers Carols at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm every Saturday while the Christmas Market is on.
Attendance for special services, such as the Advent Procession, Nine Lessons and Carols, and Carol Praise on Christmas Eve, regularly sees the Abbey filled to capacity.
Revd Stephen Girling from Bath Abbey said: “The Abbey is very busy every day from Advent Sunday until Christmas Day.
“Visitors come to enjoy the festive atmosphere and local schools, community groups and members of the Abbey community attend our numerous Christmas services.
“We can seat over 1,000 people in the Abbey and for our most popular services such as the Advent Procession, we have to ticket the service to help us with our preparations.
“We also have Shoppers Carols four times a day on Saturdays during the Bath Christmas market when each service attracts 500-700 people.
“The busiest and most poignant moments in the Abbey are on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. With four services on Christmas Eve and another three on Christmas Day, it’s our delight to share worship with thousands.
“This year those numbers are magnified as the Christmas Day service on Radio 4 will be a broadcast from Bath Abbey.
“The combination of services, rehearsals and the relatively small space of the Abbey makes December a very busy but amazing time for us especially as we try to make each person important and each service special.
“Everyone has a great time and there’s genuine community spirit with giving and receiving and plenty of Christmas joy.”
To find out more about how you can join in the festivities at Bath Abbey and enjoy Christmas carols in the Abbey’s beautiful surroundings, visit: www.bathabbey.org/christmas2017
